Method and Apparatus of Providing and Maintaining Personal Health Care Records

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a method for distribution of medical information and patient services including providing coaches to effectuate behavioral changes in patients including addressing health, wellness, mental health, and productivity issues, wherein said coaches have undertaken coach training and use substantially the same coaching skills and methodology, and wherein the coaches are as a group heterogeneous in that some of said coaches possess credentials in nutrition and weight management, and some of said coaches possess credentials in mental health.

1 . A method for distribution of medical information and patient services comprising:
 providing coaches to effectuate behavioral changes in patients including addressing health, wellness, mental health, and productivity issues, wherein said coaches have undertaken coach training and use substantially the same coaching skills and methodology, and wherein the coaches are as a group heterogeneous in that some of said coaches possess credentials in nutrition and weight management, and some of said coaches possess credentials in mental health.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said coaches have undertaken substantially the same health or wellness coach training. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said coaches use a standardized evidence-based practice approach to manage the coaching process. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the coaching conducted by the coaches by telephone. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein an employee is matched based on the specialty of the coach with whom he/she will work identified by the patient's results from their well being questionnaire. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the digital devices make available to its consumers wellness information relevant to their wellness needs while promoting healthy lifestyles and consumer empowerment. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein disease management program, health promotion program, or wellness program can be integrated. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the patient chooses to arrange for a seamless referral for telephone coaching sessions including
 online registration and completion of well-being questionnaire,   triggering an automatic referral to a certified wellness coach who is matched based on the identified wellness needs from the persons scores;   immediately displaying these scores on the patient's desktop or wireless phone so they can see their results;   reviewing the same scores by the coach prior to the initiation of the initial call to schedule a telephone appointment.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein a sixty minute session allows for reviews and discussion of the scores and both coach and person proceed to arrive at a wellness vision, and both the patient and the coach co-create a wellness plan for working toward realizing the vision. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the plan includes a set of larger three-month behavioral goals and a set of small weekly behavioral goals, the coach summarizes the wellness plan and delivers the wellness plan to the patient after the initial session, the patient further has two 45-minute coaching sessions, spaced 1-3 weeks apart and wherein these sessions are conducted telephonically, and at all times before, during and after the initiation of the coaching process, the person has immediate access to the downloaded wellness content within the digital device and recommended online resources, containing information relevant issue and toolkits to empower the person to achieve their wellness goals. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coaches are trained in one of at least three specialties selected from physical therapy, psychotherapy, life coaching, physical fitness, medical/disease management, nutrition, and weight management. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the questionnaire is completed online by the consumer immediately and seamlessly refers to a certified wellness coach who is matched with the patient based on the results obtained and reviewed in real time by the consumer, and wherein the prepared coach then contacts the consumer to schedule a sixty-minute wellness session followed by a written wellness plan submitted to the consumer. 
     
     
         13 . A method for providing behavioral health, wellness, mental health or productivity changes in a set of patients comprising: undertaking by coaches of coach training and using substantially the same coaching skills and methodology in treating the set of patients, and wherein the coaches are as a group heterogeneous in that some of said coaches, for example, possess credentials in nutrition and weight management, and some of said coaches possess credentials in mental health. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising making available to patients a digital device that includes relevant wellness information to promote healthy lifestyles and consumer empowerment. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the integration of a disease management program, a health promotion program, or a wellness program. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the steps of:
 a. increasing the utilization of health and wellness promotion; 
 b. decreasing the cost as a result of consumer empowerment; 
 c. providing a positive impact on existing wellness programs, such as health risks, and rising healthcare costs, and encourage integrated with disease management, health promotion, and wellness programs; 
 d. standardizing coaching sessions with a person, networking and providing collaboration among health care providers for consultation and cross-referrals; 
 e. matching a coach with a patient based on the identified wellness needs of the patient. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a computerized nursing station is further provided with decompression means to process data. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein a unit is selected from the group comprising a cathode ray tube, and computer display panels. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a communications interconnection system is provided with a cable switched voice means to interface between the patient and a public telephone network. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the system further includes data storage means, search means, and retrieval means implemented through an interactive software means allowing a user to search the databases and retrieve data based on user defined search criteria.